Improvement



SHEPHERD H. WHEELER, OF NILES, MICHIGAN.

llvi PROVEMENT IN STAVE-BASKETS.

S peciiifation forming part of Letters Patent N o. 165,045, dated June 29, 1875 application led October 2, 1873.

To all whom lt may concern:

Beitknown that I, SHEPHERD H. WHEELER, of Niles7 Berrien county, and State ot Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Stave-Baskets, of which the following is a description:

rlhis invention has for its nature and object the improvement of stave-baskets; and consists in applying ribs across the center of the bottom ofthe basket, in combination With the base-hoops, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The accompanying drawing forms a part of this speeication, and shows, in Figure l, a top and interior view of a device embodying' my invention. Fig. 2 shows a vertical transverse section through the diameter ot' the same.

Letters of reference are marked on the drawing, denoting the parts indicated by a similar letter in the speeitication.

A A represent the stares. These staves have a variegated taper, and terminate in a sharp point at one end. The points ot' all of these staves in one or more series meet at the center ot' the basket-bottom, and extend to the top edge ot the basket on all sides, coming edge to edge in each series. rlhe staves of one series cover the joints of the other series when more than one series are used. B B represent the ribs. These ribs extend across the center ot' the bottom within the base-hoops D D, one ot' which is on the under side of the bottom, and the other is placed verticallyr over it on the upper side of the bottom, and cover These ribs are made the points ofthe staves.

-D. These hoops assist the arched, so as to correspond with the arched vform ct' the basket-bottom, in which position they are securely nailed one to the other, with the points of the staves A A between them, and their ends abutting against the hoops D ribs in retaining their arched position, being attached together and to the basket by nails in the usual manner. The ribs also are secured by nails, and form a sufficient support to the bottom Without the aid of disks, as commonly used, than which they are a cheaper device. Suitable hoops and handles are applied to the body otl this basket in the usual manner, and it may be made in any of the forms in common use, and needs no further description here.

I am aware lthat baskets have been made having metallic straps extending across the bottom and upto the top rim. Such I do not claim; nor do I claim the ribs in any other connection than the one shown and described.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is` In a stave-basket, the arched ribs B B, arranged across the center ot' the basket-bottom, one above and one below said bottom,uuited vtogether and to the points of the staves interposed between them by nails, in combination with upper and under base-hoops D D and staves A A, as and for the purposes specified.

SHEPHERD H. WHEELER.

Witnesses:

ARZA G. GAGE, FRANK N. DEYo. 

